If you are looking for a comforting and filling salad, look no more. This Seafood Pasta Salad is exactly what you need right now. Featuring pasta, shrimp, imitation crabmeat, and veggies, it can be mixed with either a mayo or yogurt dressing for a healthier version!
I made lots of salads this summer. It was clearly my all time record. Some of them were also posted on the blog – Strawberry Walnut, Arugula Watermelon, Radish, Cucumber, and Dill, Apple, Fennel, and Walnut, and Spinach Bacon. All these creations were mind-blowingly delicious and I made each one of them three times or even more, but as the last days of summer are gone now, I’m moving on to more comforting salads.
However, I am still on my healthy diet. Is it possible to make a hearty, comforting but at the same time healthy salad? Don’t even doubt it! The Seafood Pasta Salad I made today is going to prove it to you. It features pasta, imitation crab meat, shrimp, yogurt or mayo, and veggies!
The main problem of the majority of such salads is mayo. 1 cup of this beloved product has 1500 calories and 165 grams of fat. If you are not familiar with calorie counting I can elaborate on this for you. It ‘s like 3 full portions of food containing chicken or fish, pasta or rice, veggies, and a little bit of sauce. 3 freaking portions of food vs 1 cup of mayo. Do the math.
No, I am not being judgemental here. I grew up eating mayo every single week and there was no holiday table without at least 3 salads full of this goodness. My parents still love it and they won’t even listen to what I have to say about calories and other nonsense, ha ha! If you do love mayo, and if it doesn’t have a negative impact on your body, be my guest.
My body, unfortunately, is not on friendly terms with calories, so I decided to use natural yogurt instead. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t even miss mayo in this seafood pasta salad. Seriously. Yogurt did the job for me. All other ingredients also go great together. Yum! Oh and this salad is also a great source of protein and is low in fat. I love everything about it! It’s filling as well. Go make it already!
Seafood Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 6 oz. (170g) tricolor pasta
- 2 stalks celery , chopped
- 1/2 lb (225g) imitation crabmeat , chopped
- 1 8 oz. or 225g package cooked shrimp , peeled, deveined, and chopped
- 1/2 cup frozen green peas
- 1/2 cup natural yogurt (you can use mayo instead, but mix it with 1 1/2 tbsp milk then)
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- In the meantime, mix the celery, crabmeat, and shrimp in a large bowl. Rinse the frozen peas under hot water to defrost and add to the bowl.
- In another bowl, mix together the yogurt, sugar, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Add to the salad bowl and mix well. Chill before serving. Enjoy!
20 Comments
Catherine
September 28, 2016 at 9:04 pmThere is nothing better than pasta and seafood. I love this beautiful dish…it reminds me of summer but so accessible for the fall too. Its like a little taste of summer any time of year!
Jovita
November 26, 2016 at 2:27 pmI would even say that it’s more like a fall-winter salad π But you are right – it’s awesome any time of the year!
April J Harris
September 28, 2016 at 9:33 pmWhat a lovely, fresh and delicious salad! This is the perfect dish to help hang on to the last warm days of the season – and it’s wholesome too!
Jovita
November 26, 2016 at 2:35 pmIt’s really awesome, April!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest
September 28, 2016 at 9:40 pmI love seafood salads – and the colors here are beautiful!
Jovita
November 26, 2016 at 2:42 pmLisa, I love how it turned out myself too!
Heather @Boston Girl Bakes
September 28, 2016 at 10:13 pmOoh I love all of these things π love the idea of putting shrimp in my pasta salad!
Jovita
November 26, 2016 at 2:45 pmYes! It’s awesome, Heather π
Noel Lizotte
September 28, 2016 at 10:35 pmshared all over! Love this colorful salad!
I’m kind of like your parents in that I use “mayo” a lot … but it’s usually Miracle Whip. I don’t read the label. I just take the dog for another lap around the block. She’s a Border Collie so she doesn’t mind, she’s got the energy!
Jovita
November 26, 2016 at 2:47 pmHa ha, Noel, that’s a great idea with a dog π
Platter Talk
September 28, 2016 at 11:40 pmThe use of yogurt in this recipe is compelling. I’m going to try that idea. Thanks.
Jovita
November 26, 2016 at 2:51 pmLet me know how you liked it after tasting it π
Jen | Baked by an Introvert
September 29, 2016 at 5:14 pmI love the idea of adding seafood to pasta salad! This will definitely satisfy my pasta and shrimp cravings!
Jovita
November 26, 2016 at 2:52 pmThere is no way not to love this salad, Jen π
kallee
September 29, 2016 at 5:43 pmIt is so colorful and looks delicious. I know I would love this recipe.
Jovita
November 26, 2016 at 2:52 pmYou surely would, Kallee!
Florentina
September 29, 2016 at 6:44 pmSeafood and pasta make my world go around! Love the yogurt addition!
Jovita
November 26, 2016 at 2:55 pmI am glad you liked it, Florentina!
Anlet Prince - Annslittlecorner
October 8, 2016 at 11:29 amShrimp in a salad and pasta too. This is fabulous
Jovita
November 26, 2016 at 2:55 pmIt really is, Anlet π